Removable bending roll housing

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for positioning a bending roll assembly to receive a casting from the mold of a continuous-casting machine, and removing said assembly therefrom. The assembly is slidably mounted on rails, whereby it can be pulled into or out of its casting-receiving position.

United States Patent [191 Gallucci June 26, 1973 REMOVABLE BENDING ROLL HOUSING [75] Inventor: Francis Gallucci, North Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland, Pa.

[73] Assignee: United States Steel Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa.

[22] Filed: Nov. 27, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 93,302

[52] U.S. Cl. 164/282 [51] Int. Cl B22d 11/12 [58] Field of Search 164/82, 281, 282,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2 1970 Rokop 164/283 X 3,527,286 9/1970 Meitz 164/282 3,542,117 11/1970 Lemper 164/282 X 3,257,691 6/1966 Krueger 164/282 X 3,447,591 6/1969 Foldessy 164/282 Primary Examiner-J. Spencer Overholser Assistant Examiner-John S. Brown AttorneyRa1ph H. Dougherty [5 7] ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for positioning a bending roll assembly to receive a casting from the mold of a continuous-casting machine, and removing said assembly therefrom. The assembly is slidably mounted on rails, whereby it can be pulled into or out of its castingreceiving position. 5 v I 7 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure REMOVABLE BENDING ROLL HOUSING This invention relates generally to bending a continuous metal casting from a vertical path of descent to conduct it to a horizontal path of travel, and, more particularly, to a method for removably mounting a bending roll assembly in the vertical path of the casting and to apparatus therefor.

In the continuous casting of metals, it is customary to employ a vertical tubular mold open at the upper end for receiving molten metal and open at the lower end for discharging a partially solidified casting. To facilitate handling and further processing of the casting, it is desirable to deliver the casting in a horizontal position. This can be accomplished by passing the casting through bending rolls which guide the casting along a curved path to the horizontal. Because it is difficult to bend a solidified casting, bending rolls are in relatively close proximity to the continuous-casting mold, at a level at which the casting still has a liquid core. Bending rolls are subjected to high temperatures and are constantly in danger of being damaged by molten metal or mechanical pressure. Because of these hazards, bending rolls frequently need repair or replacement.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a simplified method and apparatus for removing and replacing a bending roll assembly.

The single FIGURE is a side elevational view of a portion of a continuous-casting machine showing a bending roll assembly in casting-receiving position at the left of the figure, and in position for removal from the machine in phantom at the right of the figure.

ln the drawing, bending roll assembly is positioned in the vertical path of continuous casting 12 directly beneath a continuous-casting mold (not shown). A pair of spaced parallel horizontal rails or guides 15 provide support for the bending roll assembly. Such rails are preferably chrome-plated steel and are fixed to casting machine frame 16. Assembly 10 has a'pair of steel shoes 17 which provide a sliding surface at their areas of contact with the rails. Bolts 18 pass through shoes 17 and rails 15 and hold assembly 10 in proper alignment with the mold. Stops 19a and 191; are located near the ends of rails 15 to prevent overtravel.

The bending assembly generally comprises a rigid frame 20, two flanged rolls 21 and 22 journaled on frame and a flanged roll 23 journaled on a downwardly extending arm 24 pivotally attached to frame 20 by swivel pin 25. The casting is bent by the thrust of roll 23, the force of which is provided by a horizontal screw jack and associated linkage 28 bearing against arm 24.

Frame 20 has a hole 30 therein. Arm 24 has a hole 31 of the same diameter as hole 30, which hole 31 can be aligned with hole 30 in the frame. A pin 32 which has a flanged head is placed in mating holes 30 and 31 to keep arm 24 from pivoting when the assembly 10 is being changed. Screw jack linkage 28 is fastened to arm 24 by pin 35. The assembly 10 has lifting ears 37 for engagement by an overhead crane sling 38, and tabs 39 and 40 having holes therein for attachment of a clevis;

To place a bending roll assembly in operating or casting-receiving position, an assembly 10 is first seated on rails 15 remote from its final position beneath the mold. The assembly is moved into position by means such as a cable 43 connected to tab 39 by a clevis 44 pulling the assembly in a horizontal direction. Stop 19a prevents overtravel of the assembly. When the assembly reaches the approximately correct position beneath the mold, bolts 18 are placed in the holes through shoes 17 until they are aligned with the holes in rails 15. Nuts are then tightened on bolts 18 to fix the assembly in operating position. Screw jack linkage 28 is pinned to arm 24 by insertion of pin 35. Pin 32 is then removed from holes 30 and 31. The bending roll assembly is now ready to receive and bend the casting.

To remove the bending roll assembly, the reverse of the above procedure is followed. Hole 31 is aligned with hole 30 by operation of the screw jack, and pin 32 is inserted through holes 30 and 31 to fix arm 24 in position. Screw jack linkage 28 is disengaged from arm 24 by removal of pin 35. A cable 46 is attached to tab 40 by a clevis 47. Bolts 18 are removed. The cable pulls assembly 10 along rails 15 to a position remote from the path of the casting. The clevis is removed from tab 40 and assembly 10 is lifted off rails 15 by lifting ears 37. A new assembly then replaces the old one on the rails.

Any means for inducing linear motion of the bending roll assembly may be substituted for the cable and overhead crane motive means depicted. Such means includes, but is not limited to a hydraulic cylinder and a motor driven worm gear.

From the foregoing it is readily apparent that my novel means of mounting a bending roll assembly provides a quick and easy means of replacement of a damaged or worn assembly.

1 claim: 1. The combination, with a continuous casting machine which has a bending roll assembly including a frame, two rolls journaled on said frame, a downwardly extending arm pivotally attachedt o said frame, a roll journaled on said downwardly extending arm, and means for pivoting said arm, saidi assembly having a casting receiving position, of an apparatus comprising:

a support frame; rails fixed to said support frame at the elevation of said assembly; *1

bearing means carried by said assembly and slidably engaging said rails in said casting receiving position;

means for locating said assembly in its casting receiving position; and i means for moving said assembly along said rails into and out of its casting receiving position.

2. The combination, with a continuous-casting machine, which includes a bending roll assembly having a casting-receiving position, of an apparatus for removably mounting said assembly in said machine, said apparatus comprising:

a. a support frame;

b. rails fixed to said support frame;

c. bearing means carried by said assembly and slidably engaging said rails;

d. means for locating said assembly in its castingreceiving position, said means comprising:

1. shoes having a plurality of holes therein,

2. said rails having a like number of coaxial, congruent holes therein, and

3. bolts passing through said holes whereby said shoes are properly aligned and fixed to said rails; and

e. means for moving said assembly along said rails into and out of its casting-receiving position.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said last-named means comprises:

a cable attached to said assembly and motive means for drawing said cable.

4. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said bending roll assembly includes releasable means for preventing pivotal motion of said arm.

5. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which each of said rolls has a pair of flanges.

6. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said bending roll assembly includes lifting ears for engagement by an overhead lifting device.

7. The combination, with a continuous casting machine which has a removably mounted bending roll assembly including a frame, a downwardly extending arm pivotally attached to said frame, means for pivoting said arm, and releasable means for preventing pivotal motion of said arm, said assembly having a casting receiving position, of an apparatus comprising:

a support frame; rails fixed to said support frame at the elevation of said assembly; bearing means carried by said assembly and slidably engaging said rails in said casting receiving position; means for locating said assembly in its casting receiving position; means for moving said assembly along said rails into and out of its casting receiving position; and said frame and said arm having mating holes, and said releasable means including a removable pin inserted in the holes, whereby pivotal motion of said arm is prevented. 

1. The combination, with a continuous casting machine which has a bending roll assembly including a frame, two rolls journaled on said frame, a downwardly extending arm pivotally attached to said frame, a roll journaled on said downwardly extending arm, and means for pivoting said arm, said assembly having a casting receiving position, of an apparatus comprising: a support frame; rails fixed to said support frame at the elevation of said assembly; bearing means carried by said assembly and slidably engaging said rails in said casting receiving position; means for locating said assembly in its casting receiving position; and means for moving said assembly along said rails into and out of its casting receiving position.
 2. said rails having a like number of coaxial, congruent holes therein, and
 2. The combination, with a continuous-casting machine, which includes a bending roll assembly having a casting-receiving position, of an apparatus for removably mounting said assembly in said machine, said apparatus comprising: a. a support frame; b. rails fixed to said support frame; c. bearing means carried by said assembly and slidably engaging said rails; d. means for locating said assembly in its casting-receiving position, said means comprising:
 3. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said last-named means comprises: a cable attached to said assembly and motive means for drawing said cable.
 3. bolts passing through said holes whereby said shoes are properly aligned and fixed to said rails; and e. means for moving said assembly along said rails into and out of its casting-receiving position.
 4. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said bending roll assembly includes releasable means for preventing pivotal motion of said arm.
 5. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which each of said rolls has a pair of flanges.
 6. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said bending roll assembly includes lifting ears for engagement by an overhead lifting device.
 7. ThE combination, with a continuous casting machine which has a removably mounted bending roll assembly including a frame, a downwardly extending arm pivotally attached to said frame, means for pivoting said arm, and releasable means for preventing pivotal motion of said arm, said assembly having a casting receiving position, of an apparatus comprising: a support frame; rails fixed to said support frame at the elevation of said assembly; bearing means carried by said assembly and slidably engaging said rails in said casting receiving position; means for locating said assembly in its casting receiving position; means for moving said assembly along said rails into and out of its casting receiving position; and said frame and said arm having mating holes, and said releasable means including a removable pin inserted in the holes, whereby pivotal motion of said arm is prevented. 